The Toronto Argonauts re-signed fullback Spencer Nichols, wide receivers Aaron Parker and B.J. Byrd, offensive linemen Anthony Vandal and Braydon Noll, and linebackers Ife Onyemenam and Brendan Murphy on Wednesday.
Spencer Nichols is six foot three and weighs 240 pounds. The 24-year-old from London, Ontario, played six games for the Argonauts in 2023 with two tackles on special teams. The Argonauts drafted Nichols in the fourth round (36th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Nichols played five seasons at Western Ontario University (2018-22) with one carry for four yards, 13 catches for 123 yards, three tackles (3 solo), and one interception for 23 yards in 37 games for the Mustangs. He is a member of the 2021 Western Mustangs Vanier Cup championship team.
Aaron Parker is six foot two and weighs 210 pounds. The 25-year-old from Prince George’s County, Maryland, was on the Toronto Argonauts practice squad in 2023. Before Toronto, Parker attended training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played one preseason game against Green Bay with one catch for 27 yards.
Parker signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Later, he signed with the Carolina Panthers and played one regular season game on October 24th, against the New York Giants. In three preseason games for the Panthers, Parker had five catches for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Collegiately, Parker played four seasons at Rhode Island (2016-19) with 216 catches for 3,443 yards, 30 touchdowns, 15 carries for 46 yards, one touchdown, and 12 punt returns for 109 yards in 44 games, of which he started 35 of them for the Rams. He was a two-time CAA Football First Team All-Conference and the 2018 New England Football Writer’s Association All-New England selection.
B.J. Byrd is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. The 24-year-old from Richmond, California, played one game for the Argonauts in 2023 but did not record any stats. Before Toronto, Byrd was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in 2022.
Collegiately, Byrd played one season at Jacksonville University in 2019 with 27 catches for 445 yards, one touchdown, six carries for 31 yards, one touchdown, 34 kick returns for 771 yards, and seven punt returns for 72 yards in 12 games for the Dolphins.
Then, Byrd transferred to Morehead State (2020-21) with 121 catches for 1,780 yards, 21 touchdowns, 13 kick returns for 360 yards, and one touchdown in 18 games for the Eagles. He is a two-time Unanimous All-PFL First-Team and PFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Anthony Vandal is six foot four and weighs 290 pounds. The 25-year-old from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, was drafted by the Argonauts in the eighth round (72nd pick) in the 2023 CFL Draft. Collegiately, Vandal played at Sherbrooke and was named a RESQ All-Star three times and Second Team All-Star for the entirety of U SPORTS.
Braydon Noll is six foot six and weighs 297 pounds. The 26-year-old from Orangeville, Ontario, played three games as a backup for the Argonauts in 2023. In 2022, Noll played one game for the Argonauts against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on August 6th. The Argonauts drafted Noll in the fourth round (35th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Noll played 23 games in five seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (2016-21) playing every position on the offensive line. He started as a defensive lineman before moving to the offensive line in his second year. In addition, he attended Trinity College before transferring to Wilfrid Laurier.
Ife Onyemenam is six foot one and weighs 215 pounds. The 23-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, was drafted by the Argonauts in the sixth round (54th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Onyemenam played four seasons at Wilford Laurier (2019, 2021-23) with 126 tackles (88 solo, 78 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions for 45 yards, 12 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and one blocked punt in 36 games for the Golden Hawks. He was a two-time First Team OUA All-Star.
Brendan Murphy is six foot one and weighs 205 pounds. The 26-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, was drafted by the Argonauts in the seventh round (63rd pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Murphy played two seasons at Guelph University (2018-19) with 81 tackles (57 solo, 24 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, and eight pass breakups in 19 games for the Gryphons.
Then, he transferred to Western Ontario (2021-22) with 103 tackles (47 solo, 56 assists), 15.5 tackles for loss, seven tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 21 games for the Mustangs. He is a member of the 2021 Western Mustangs Vanier Cup championship team.
In addition to the re-signings, the Argonauts also signed wide receiver Jordan Byrd and defense lineman Nelson Jordan II.
Jordan Byrd is five foot seven and weighs 170 pounds. The 23-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, played one preseason game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 with one catch for -4 yards. The Steelers signed Byrd as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023.
Collegiately, Byrd played five seasons at San Diego State (2018-22) with 47 catches for 219 yards, one touchdown, 275 carries for 1,353 yards, 12 touchdowns, 80 kick returns for 2,020 yards, three touchdowns, 67 punt returns for 445 yards, and one touchdown in 58 games for the Aztecs. He was a two-time First Team All-Mountain West.
Nelson Jordan II is six foot two and weighs 251 pounds. The 24-year-old from Starkville, Mississippi, played four seasons at Samford University (2018-21) with 124 tackles (65 solo, 59 assists), 21.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and four pass breakups in 39 games for the Bulldogs. He was named Second Team All-SoCon in 2021.
Then, Jordan II transferred to Alabama State in 2022 with 28 tackles (11 solo, 17 assists), seven tackles for loss, and 11 sacks in nine games for the Hornets.
